Melee Training Houserule

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Arithezoo

Aug 10, 2010 13:44:57		After seeing the fury that has been raised with the recent announced change to the Melee Training feat, and in conjunction with my own thoughts on the issue of melee basic attacks, here is my proposed houserule, prefaced with a brief explanation of why:

It has long bothered me that many classes, such as the Rogue and Avenger, excel at making melee attacks with weapons, yet do not perform nearly as well when the monster moves out of their threatened square.  My houserule is this: many classes will be given an effective Melee Training for free.  The feat remains, but can only be taken by certain other classes, and for set stats (like the Intelligent Blademaster feat).

Classes to receive free Melee Training in their primary attack stat:
Rogue
Avenger
Ardent
Battlemind
Monk

Classes that can take Melee Training as a feat, and the stat to which it is linked:
Cleric (Wisdom)
Paladin (Charisma)
Warlock (Constitution or Charisma)
Wizard (Intelligence)
Bard (Charisma)
Druid (Wisdom)
Invoker (Wisdom)
Shaman (Wisdom)
Sorcerer (Charisma)
Psion (Intelligence)
Seeker (Wisdom)

The classes to which I gave it for free are ones that rely on melee attacks primarily.  I know it is possible to make a ranged rogue and use stealth to get combat advantage, so people might prefer to move rogue to the second list.  The classes that can take it as a feat are either ones that are primarily ranged (wizard, warlock) or ones that had a choice (cleric, paladin).  When you make a Charisma paladin, you are giving up potent melee basic attacks in exchange for a potent divine challenge.  Strength paladins can take a feat to boost their divine challenge, and so Charisma paladins would take a feat to boost their melee basic attacks.
#2

Bandikoot

Aug 10, 2010 14:30:55 		I just give melee training away as a bonus feat at first level.  The feat exists in order to patch a hole they created when they divorced 4E classes from traditional attack stats, but kept the basic attacks old school.  From a suspension of disbelief standpoint, I see no reason why a weapon based character should be worse at the most basic forms of attack than they are with more powerful (class) powers.  You'd think they'd learn where to put the pointy end in basic, before moving on to attacking while doing backflips and chunking throwing stars.